Towards the design of supportive neighbourhoods

Using integral (action-) research methods for urban development
Guest Lecture by Veldacademie Rotterdam (Otto Trienekens and Andrea Fitskie)

With concepts such as the ’10-minute city’ (city of proximity) and ‘Assisted Living Area’s’, cities as Amsterdam and Brussels are committed to organizing local nodes, where facilities for daily life are within reach for all residents. This focus on local and everyday city life connects to several societal urgencies, for example concerning sustainability, local economy, loneliness, inclusivity and equity. Through the concept of ‘Resilient Neighbourhoods’ the city of Rotterdam aims to improve the resiliency of vulnerable areas by investing in the social capital of residents and communities. The well-functioning of local ecosystems is an important asset for all city residents, but especially for those who are bound to their place of residence and the surrounding area due to age or disability.

Rotterdam based social-spatial research lab Veldacademie (Field Academy) has developed various methods to understand the socio-spatial relationships of urban ecosystems. By using profound GIS tools and instruments for Social Network Analysis , behaviour and urban design are being analysed. In this guest lecture the methods and insights of projects in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Brussels will be shared and reflected on. How can the scale of the city (and its urban strategy) be associated with the daily life in neighbourhoods? What are the spatial conditions for community building? And what is the role of the (urban) designer in developing better cities?

Otto Trienekens (MSc) and Andrea Fitskie (MSc) are both trained as architects at Technical University Delft. Veldacademie focuses on socio-spatial themes, often related to health and well-being. Besides working on social-spatial research and design projects, they lecture design studio’s at TU Delft and participate in international summer schools and research collectives.